Physiotherapy: Expectations vs. Reality
Never been to physiotherapy before and wondering what you should expect? Seen physiotherapists around your area but they all seem different?
Ever questioned how often you need to see a physiotherapist? Why we tell you to stop doing the things you want to do? How come we are so obsessed with giving out exercises? We also answer one of the most asked questions physiotherapists hate!
Here’s everything you need to know…
Treatment frequency: over servicing vs under servicing?
Our biggest aim as physiotherapists is to ensure the care we provide is centred around the patient, our focus is patient education and building independence. We want to provide goal-oriented treatment plans in order for you to better manage your symptoms independently, meaning fewer total visits in the long run!
But why does my physio recommend so many sessions?
We tend to recommend a greater number of sessions earlier during the acute healing phase - the time during your recovery when injuries are more irritable and reactive. This window is important so we can monitor your initial healing, provide manual therapy and pain relief, and restore mobility.
The number of sessions will usually decrease as the injury healing progresses, alongside decreasing pain and returning function. The focus should now shift from passive treatment provided by the physiotherapist, to you independently performing the exercises at home. Sessions also tend to be spaced further apart, giving the body time to adapt to new exercises and training loads placed on it.
The number of sessions required is very individualised, and will change according to your goals and injury!
Why we ask you to stop and where people go wrong. Calm it down, to build it up.
Here are two ways people go wrong before coming in to see a physiotherapist:
Some people correctly stop the activity that causes pain, but when the pain subsides return to activity only to feel the same pain return.
Others cannot stop for specific reasons: athlete mentality, activity cannot be avoided (like sitting or turning head) or for work.
As a rule of thumb almost all injuries will require some period of resting or modification of aggravating activities, combined with strategies to improve strength and function of the injured area. However, if you only do one of these, the issue will not resolve itself properly. We want to calm it down to build it up!
Our process as physiotherapists is to:
Provide hands on treatment to settle pain
Stop aggravating activities - ideally the least amount of things possible!
Modify or offload activities that cannot be avoided (including bracing or taping)
Prescribe exercise to restore strength & mobility
Provide guidance on when to return successfully to avoid recurring pain
Do you really need to do your exercises?
Hands on treatment (manual therapy/massage) can feel great and provides temporary relief of symptoms during the acute healing phase. However, exercise is active driver of recovery - working not only to restore strength but build your confidence to move again.
Exercises prescribed by your physiotherapists will work to:
Offset loss of strength or mobility caused by resting/immobilising
Address the weakness/stiffness that led to injury
Rebuild strength to prepare for your return to activity (work, sport etc.)
Prevent injury recurrence
Skipping your exercises can lead to increasing weakness and stiffness, prolonging your recovery journey and increasing the chance of re-injury - without them your body will be unprepared for the demands/tasks placed upon it.
Monitoring rehab exercise informs us what your current capacity is, helping guide activity modifications and return-to-sport or work at the right time rather than just guessing. The bottom line is, exercise builds confidence - in both the patient and physiotherapist.
Isn’t physio just massage? can you just do massage?
We know a lot of people come seeking pain relief, and massage can be really effective for this - we get it! But it is only a piece of a complete treatment plan and we as physiotherapists are able to offer you so much more!
As your healthcare provider, it is important we can talk to you to understand what’s happening, and assess you to diagnose the issue. Only then can we effectively treat your injury.
Massage provides short-term relief, but we know exercise is a super effective long-term treatment option, so we always want include this too. Different problems respond to different treatments, and the amount of massage compared with exercise varies a lot between people - as well as along the stages of your injury recovery.
If massage is very important to you, let us know so we can make sure to include it in your care. If you are after solely massage, we recommend seeing a massage therapist. If you’re looking for comprehensive treatment, come in to see one of our physiotherapists at Swell.
A comprehensive treatment plan for an injury usually includes:
Thorough clinical examination to confirm a diagnosis
Provide hands on treatment to assist immediate pain relief
Guide bracing or immobilisation
Determine the need for imaging and medical referrals
Prescribe exercise plans to improve physical capacity of your body
If you have any other questions about your upcoming physiotherapy appointment, or what we can offer you, give us a call or email and one of our physiotherapists will be able to help!